Portage La Prairie to Winnipeg
An odd thing happened this morning...the sun was shining as we left Portage La Prairie. What a nice treat! Today's ride was just about as good as you could have. No wind for the first 50 km and then a slight breeze from the northwest aided our riding. Even better, we almost forgot today that we were riding in Manitoba! A nice wide shoulder and about 25 km of it 'brand spanking new'. Maybe the Manitoba Government's promise to pave the shoulders of the Trans Canada across the whole province will eventually come true. However, while having lunch we talked to about 20 local 'senior citizen ' bicyclists who said that unfortunately the stretch from Winnipeg to the Ontario border is still bad. It was fun to chat to these riders as many of them were experienced touring cyclists who have ridden in Europe. One 76 year old man was on his way to ride in Germany later this year. And let me tell you I hope I look that good when I am 76 years old. Do not like the odds!!!
Again we were treated to some of Manitoba's finest agricultural land. However, as we approached Winnipeg some of the crops appear to be 50 to 75% killed by too much water lying around. Western Agriculture is truly in trouble this year!
We are staying in the Canada Inn Express in Winnipeg. We have again changed our plans to take a day off in 'The Peg'. We wanted to stay close to downtown in a B+B but they are all booked due to the Truth and Reconciliation Hearings and a large Health Care Convention. So since the weather forecast is good for a couple more days we are going to 'plow' on and take a day off in a campground somewhere before the Ontario border.
And oh yes. About the title. We were given a 'classic car' show as we rode along the Trans Canada today. At least 100+ old cars went past, many of them 'muscle cars' from the late 60's and early 70's. Fun trying to identify them as we rode.
Daily Distance = 108.26 km. Time on the Bikes = 5 hours 49 minutes. Average Speed = 18.52 km. Maximum Speed = 33.63 km. Wildlife Sightings = None! We were blinded by all the sunshine!
Kevin = 3 Sue = 0.
